The Strange, Troubled History of Pedestrian Malls A few of them have worked out well. Most of them have been failures. But the idea of building new ones has never died, and there are signs of still another incarnation. Alan Ehrenhalt, Senior Editor | February 23, 2021 It's hard to walk down State Street in Madison, Wis., without realizing that it is one of the great streets in America. Just over half a mile long, a 12-minute walk from end to end, it links two great landmarks: the University of Wisconsin and the state Capitol. Its sidewalks are lined with stores, art displays, restaurants and bars that make it feel like a longer piece of territory than it really is. The street took a serious blow last year from the coronavirus and the disturbances that accompanied the death of George Floyd. Still, the fundamentals remain intact.